Engine 230vs251

Visual Differences Between the Power-Wagon
230 and 251 ci Flat Head 6 Engines

Dodge used two different engines in the WDX-WM300 Power-Wagons between the years of 1946 and 1968. The 230ci Flat Head 6 was used from 1946 until 1960 and the 251ci Flat Head 6 was used from 1961-1968.

There are a few visual references to help tell these engines apart, and as the 251 is a longer engine, which required modification of the truck to fit, there are external visual clues to tell them apart as well.

The quickest way to tell a 230 from a 251 is to measure the head, a 230 has a 23" long head and a 251 has a 25" long head. This is only true for an original Power-Wagon motor, if the motor has been replaced at some point in the trucks life, the measurement comes out the same for a bunch of different displacement engines. A quick incomplete breakdown is 201ci, 218ci, and 230ci all have the 23" head, 251ci, 265ci, and 236ci all have the 25" head.

The biggest external clue to a 230 vs a 251 truck is the grill. To make room for the longer engine, the grill was moved forward about an inch. The standard 230 grill is the red truck on the left and the extended 251 grill is the green truck on the right.

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The engine on the left is a 230 and the engine on the right is a 251, note how the radiator is moved forward in the 251 truck, and how the head is more square looking on the 251 then on the 230.

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Here are some better shots of the radiator moved forward.

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I hope to update this page from time to time as more info becomes available, and feedback is given about other information that would be good to include on this page.

Please contact the Registry maintainers at the below email address if you have any suggestions or questions.